wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “braintree plugin”
wp.org orders by popularity, so a plugin a host bundled onto millions of sites, or a big-brand one that's slow and mediocre, can sit at the top. Our ranking is built to answer a different question: which of these is actually worth installing. How this works →
For “braintree plugin”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 6 plugins are pushed down for signals wp.org ignores: errors, a host-installed base, or removal risk.
wp.org search ranks on
Install count (uncapped), the raw star average, freshness, and support. Popularity dominates, so the biggest install base usually wins regardless of how it got there.
We add
A cap on the install boost, volume-weighted ratings, and signals wp.org can't see: whether it throws errors on current PHP, whether the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
Membership Plugin – Kadence Memberships shows at wp.org #11 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 8K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.1★ average from 100 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
FunnelKit – Funnel Builder Plugin for WooCommerce Checkout places #3 on merit, 5.0★ from 1028 reviews, but shows at wp.org #9. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Payment Plugins Braintree For WooCommerce 2K+ · 4.8★ (149)
wp.org #1 2 
Speed Optimizer – The All-In-One Performance-Boosting Plugin 1M+ · 4.2★ (641)
wp.org #3 ↑1 1 too low 3 FunnelKit – Funnel Builder Plugin for WooCommerce Checkout 30K+ · 5.0★ (1028)
wp.org #9 6 too low 4 
Appointment Booking Plugin – LatePoint | Calendar & Scheduling for WordPress 100K+ · 4.9★ (106)
wp.org #6 ↓1 2 too low 5 
Simple Membership 40K+ · 4.6★ (475) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #5 ↑5 6 
Cookie Compliance for WordPress – Cookie Consent, GDPR & CCPA 800K+ · 4.8★ (3026)
wp.org #10 ↑3 4 too low 7 
LearnPress – WordPress LMS Plugin for Create and Sell Online Courses 70K+ · 4.3★ (597) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #7 8 
PayPal Enterprise Payments (formerly Braintree) for WooCommerce 10K+ · 2.6★ (50) throws errorsnot PHP-current low rating, top placement
wp.org #2 6 too high 9 
Sliced Invoices – WordPress Invoice Plugin 4K+ · 4.6★ (117) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #8 1 too high 10 
Payment Gateway Braintree WooCommerce 200+ · 4.3★ (12) thin reviews
wp.org #4 ↓1 6 too high 11 
Events Made Easy 1K+ · 4.6★ (111)
wp.org #14 ↑2 3 too low 12 
Charitable – Donation & Fundraising Platform (Donation Forms, Recurring Donations & Fundraising Campaigns) 10K+ · 4.9★ (219) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #13 ↑1 1 too low 13 
Realtyna Organic IDX plugin + WPL Real Estate 1K+ · 4.7★ (203)
wp.org #18 ↑1 5 too low 14 
Event Tickets and Registration 90K+ · 3.5★ (236) heavy footprint
wp.org #12 ↓1 2 too high 15 
Fluid Checkout for WooCommerce – Lite 20K+ · 4.9★ (159)
wp.org #23 ↑1 8 too low 16 
Tickera – Sell Tickets & Manage Events 2K+ · 4.5★ (292)
wp.org #22 ↓2 6 too low 17 
Payment forms, Buy now buttons, and Invoicing System | GetPaid 5K+ · 4.5★ (46)
wp.org #17 ↑1 18 
FAZ Cookie Manager 3K+ · 5.0★ (30)
wp.org #20 ↑2 2 too low 19 
Pinpoint Booking System – Legacy version 2K+ · 3.6★ (185)
wp.org #21 2 too low 20 Membership Plugin – Kadence Memberships 8K+ · 3.1★ (100) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #11 ↑1 9 too high 21 
zahls.ch Credit Cards, PostFinance and TWINT for WooCommerce 3K+ · 4.9★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↑1 5 too high 22 
Milo Subscriptions – Subscriptions for WooCommerce and Recurring Payments 200+ · 5.0★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #24 2 too low 23 
Blacklist Manager – WooCommerce Anti-Fraud, Blacklist & Checkout Verification 2K+ · 3.6★ (14) not PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #15 8 too high 24 
Parcel2Go Shipping 200+ · 2.6★ (13) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↑2 5 too high Merit ranking caps the install boost at 1M (wp.org leaves it uncapped), replaces the raw star average with a volume-weighted Bayesian score and a Wilson lower bound, and keeps wp.org's own freshness and compatibility decays. Method from the plugin-directory source; see Meta Trac #8298. Positions are tracked daily from the first visit to a keyword, so the small arrows show movement since tracking began.